298 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
below the surface of the ground. In winter a sheet of glass is 
placed over the tub, and the foot or 18 inches packed full of 
straw rubbish. In May the straw is taken out, but the 
glass left on until the growth of the plants necessitates its 
removal.—E d.] 
NOTES ON THE NEWER OR LESSER KNOWN 
WATER-LILIES. 
By Mr. James Hudson, Y.M.H. 
I do not suppose anyone has ever ventured to find fault with the 
common white Water-lily from the point of criticism as regards 
its charms, but, on the contrary, all must have been compelled to 
admire its purity and beauty. It is undoubtedly one of the most 
beautiful of what we term “ Wild Flowers.” For a long period* 
however, it stood alone in its colour, and of hardy varieties with 
coloured or tinted flowers we had but a very few. Now we have 
other white varieties under cultivation, and the coloured ones 
are fast increasing. I am under the impression that the coloured 
varieties, even when first heard of, were looked upon as being too 
tender to be grown in our ponds and streams. Such, for 
instance, as N. alba-rosea , N. odorata, and its form N. odorata 
rubra , which is known as the Cape Cod Water-lily and N. 
tuberosa. The opinion which prevailed was undoubtedly that of 
questionable hardihood ; hence their culture did not extend as it 
should have done. Such impressions as these are, however, now 
being fast dispelled; yet there remain some even still who do not 
realise that these lovely Lilies are really as hardy as our own 
white variety. I cannot exactly say when N. alba-rosea first 
came under notice; but I recollect now some few years back 
having read a notice of it in the gardening press. This was, as 
it were, the starting point in my case, and I long desired to 
possess a plant; but the price when it -was first put into circula¬ 
tion was prohibitive. In course of time, by the kindness and 
generosity of the Kew authorities, I obtained a young plant, and 
also one of N. tuberosa. Then when later on a coloured plate or 
two was issued through The Garden my enthusiasm was increased, 
and finding, as I had done, that N. alba-rosea was quite hardy, 
I ventured to add twelve other varieties, or forms, as a further 
